Drive structure for flight-type elevator

ABSTRACT

DRIVE STRUCTURE AT THE UPPER END OF A FLIGHT-TYPE ELEVATOR THAT INCLUDES A TRANSVERSELY SPACED SPROCKETS RIGIDLY INTERJOINED BY TORSION-TRANSMITTING STRUCTURE, A PORTION OF WHICH IS A HOLLOW CASING. A HYDRAULIC MOTOR IS SUPPORTED OUTWARDLY OF THE END SPROCKET AND HAS A DRIVE SHAFT EXTENDING AXIALLY INTO THE HOLLOW PORTION. THE TORSIONTRANSMITTING STRUCTURE IS DRIVEN BY A SPEED-REDUCING GEAR DRIVE WITHIN THE CASING AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THE HOLLOW CASING PORTION.

Filed Aug.- 21, 1968 Jan. 26, 1971 R; P. R KLAus ETA!- 3,551,413

DRIVE STRUCTURE FOR FLIGHT-TYPE ELEVATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS R. P. GROSSKLAUS 8 J. L.CLINGERMAN LMMZW J n- 7 R.P. GRoss'kLAu's 3,557,473

DRIVE STRUCTURE FOR FLIGHT-TYPE ELEVATOR Filed Aug.'2l, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTORS R. RGROSSKLAUS Bu J. L. CLINGERMAN WM Al M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,557,473 DRIVE STRUCTURE FOR FLIGHT-TYPE ELEVATOR Ronald Paul Grossklaus and John Le Roy Clingerman, Moline, Ill., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, III., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 754,315 Int. Cl. B601) 1/36 US. Cl. 37-8 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Drive structure at the upper end of a flight-type elevator that includes transversely spaced sprockets rigidly interjoined by torsion-transmitting structure, a portion of which is a hollow casing. A hydraulic motor is supported outwardly of the end sprocket and has a drive shaft extending axially into the hollow portion. The torsiontransmitting structure is driven by a speed-reducing gear drive within the casing and extending between the drive shaft and the hollow casing portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the drive structure at the upper end of an elevator of the type mounted on the forward open end of a scraper bowl. Still more particularly the invention relates to a self-contained drive structure that includes a hollow torsion-transmitting means extending between transversely spaced drive sprockets and which has internal gear mechanism associated there- With for driving the torsion-transmitting structure.

It has heretofore been known to provide a flight-type elevator at the forward end of a scraper bowl and to drive the flights by means of hydraulic motor means that is drivingly connected to a drive shaft extending between a pair of transversely spaced drive sprockets at the upper end of an elevator. Such a drive is shown and described, for example, in US. Patent 3,143,814 which issued to F. M. Brinkmeyer et al. on Aug. 11, 1964. Also, it is known to provide a relatively high-speed rotary-type hydraulic motor for driving the upper drive shaft. However, in the latter drives there is required a speed-reducing drive that permits the elevator drive shaft to be driven at a relatively slow speed. The speed-reducing drive exists between the hydraulic motor and the drive shaft and is normally a gear drive contained in a suitable housing. The hydraulic motor and gear housing are supported on the elevator frame externally of one end of the drive shaft. A flywheel is also associated with the motor shaft and it also is supported at the end of the elevator drive shaft. Consequently there is considerable drive mechanism to one side of the elevator. This creates an unbalanced condition in the entire drive assembly. Since it is completely outwardly of the elevator, the structure or casings surrounding the various drive mechanism must be rather large and cumbersome. This gives a rather awkward appearance to the entire scraper. Also the additional weight on that side of the scraper makes a rather poor weight distribution for the entire elevator structure as well as the scraper itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a torsion-transmitting structure at the upper end of the elevator that includes a pair of end sprockets and rigid torsion-transmitting structure extending between the sprockets. The latter structures has an enlarged hollow section or casing disposed between the two sprockets. The hollow section has an outer periphery smaller than the sprockets so that the chain flights may pass around the enlarged portion. Contained within the enlarged portion is a speed-reducing gear drive and a flywheel, 'both of which are driven by a central drive shaft concentric to the casing. The drive shaft is drivingly connected to a motor supported just outwardly of one of the sprockets. The motor housing is carried on the elevator frame and is held against rotation. Consequently the entire structure and enlarged casing portion drive the sprockets.

It is also an object of the invention to provide in combination with the above a mounting for the upper drive structure that permits self-positioning of the sprockets and casing structure. This is done by providing articulate connections between opposite ends of the drive structure and the main frame which permits self-positioning of the drive structure. By such an arrangement there is alleviated the stresses that would occur if rigid connections were provided between the drive structure and frame. This is particularly important for the reason that the transverse torsion-transmitting structure that extends between the sprockets is in fact the main drive for the sprockets. Therefore, any prestressed condition in the structure plus the torsional forces that drive the structure, sprockets and elevator could cause premature or early failure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a tractor and scraper utilizing the elevator structure which is the subject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the elevator structure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the elevator structure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a support between the drive sprocket structure and the main frame as taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A tractor 10 has a pair of front steerable wheels 11, 12 and a pair of rear traction wheels 13, 14 carried on a transverse rear axle structure 15. The tractor 10 includes an elongated tractor body 16 with a forwardly disposed engine or ain power source mounted under a hood 17. To one side of the engine hood or housing 17 is an operators station, indicated only partially by the steering wheel 18. Supported by and formed above the tractor axle 15 is a structure defining a universal hitch 19 for connection to a trailing-type scraper implement indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 20. The scraper is composed of a material container or bowl having upright sides 22 interconnected at their lower edges by a floor structure shown only partially in FIG. 1 at 23. The bowl is open at its forward end and has an upwardly inclined elevator 24 extending across the open front of the bowl. As is conventional, there is a cutting edge along the front transverse edge of the bowl and the elevator operates in a manner so that the material passing over the edge is elevated or conveyed rearwardly into the rear setcion of the bowl. The scraper 20 is connected to the hitch device 19 so that the entire implement may move vertically as well as laterally. The hitch connection is in the form of a Y-shaped beam structure 25 having a gooseneck forward section 26 directly and articulately connected to the hitch 19 and a pair of leg portions, one being shown at 27, extending rearwardly for connection to the upper edges of the sides 22. The latter side beams and interconnected to the lower forward edges of the side walls 22 by means of hydraulic cylinders 28, 29 'which may be extended and retracted for purposes of raising and lowering the entire bowl.

The elevator 24 is composed of an elongated inclined main frame 30 including an upper horizontal transverse beam 31 and rigid and rearwardly projecting arms 32, 33 pivotally connected at 35 to upwardly projecting bracket lugs 37 on the upper edges of the sides 22 respectively. A pair of side beams 38, 39 extend downwardly to a lower elevator end.The side beams are connected at their lower ends to a lower transverse beam structure 40. A pair of beams 41, 42 is rigid with and projects outwardly of the side beams 38, 39 adjacent their lower ends and contacts stops, not shown, on the sides 22 so as to limit downward movement of the frame 30. As will be readily apparent from viewing FIG. 1, the entire elevator 24 has a floating relation to the bowl and will move both upwardly and longitudinally to accommodate the material passing into the bowl. The conveying mechanism on the elevator is composed of a pair of longitudinally extending continuous chains 43, 44 mounted over idler sprockets or chain guide means 45, 46 at the lower end of the elevator frame 30. A second set of idler chain guides 47, 48 is provided on the respective side beams 38, 39. The guides 47, 48 are carried on arms 50 pivotally connected at 51 on bracket structures 52. The arms 50 are bifurcated at their connection to the respective guides 48 and receive links 53. The bracket structures 52 are provided with a series of arcuately spaced openings 54 and the links 53 may be connected to any of the respective openings to thereby position the respective chain guides 47, 48 vertically. The chains 43, 44 are interconnected by rigid transverse flight elements 55.

Supported on the upper end of the elevator frame 30 is a transversely extending sprocket drive structure, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 60. The structure 60 is disposed above the transverse beam 31. The beam 31 has at its left end and just inwardly of the arm 32 a rearwardly projecting channel structure 61 composed of upper and lower structural plates 62, 63 respectively that are triangular in shape and are interconnected by edge plates 64, 65. The plates 64, 65 converge to an upper rear apex portion that has welded internally thereof a tubular socket 66 that opens upwardly and rearwardly toward the left outer end of the drive structure 60.

The beam 31 has adjacent its right end and just inwardly of the arm 33 a rigid rearwardly projecting channel structure 70 composed of upper and lower plates 71, 72 respectively interconnected at their edges by structure plates 73, 74. The plates 73, 74 converge rearwardly and all of the plates 71-74 have welded thereto a cast socket member 75 with an internally machinefinished pivot opening or socket 76. The socket or pivot 76 extends upwardly and rearwardly and opens upwardly and rearwardly to the right outer end of the drive structure 60. The left end socket member 66 swivelly carries therein a support 77 for the left end of the structure 60. The right end pivot structure 75 carries therein a support 78 for supporting the right end of the drive structure 60.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the drive structure 60 is composed of a pair of transversely spaced drive sprockets 80, 81 that receive the upper ends of the chains 43, 44 respectively. The sprockets 80, 81 are rigidly interoined by a torque-transmitting structure 82. The latter structure includes a transverse horizontal tubular section 83 that has an end adjacent the sprocket 80 and has fixed to that end a radial flange 84 lying inwardly of the sprocket 80 and bolted thereto at 85. The structure 82 further includes an enlarged portion or casing 86 that is round in cross section and is formed about the axis of rotation of the two sprockets 80, 81, it being understood that the sprockets 80, 81 are adapted to move about a common axis. The casing 86 has a right end extension 87 with a right end radial flange 88 lying inwardly of the right-hand sprocket 81 and bolted thereto at 89. A flywheel casing 90 is bolted at 91 to the left end of the enlarged portion or casing 86. The flywheel casing 90 is bolted at 92 to a radial plate 93 that is welded to and extends outwardly from the right end of the structural tube 83. A web 94 closes the left end of the flywheel casing 90.

Extending axially in respect to the axis of rotation of the sprockets 80, 81 is drive shaft means in the form of an elongated axially extending shaft 100. The shaft extends axially through the casings 86, 87 and into the flywheel casing 90. The shaft is journaled on its innermost end by a bearing 101 carried on a support 102 that is fixed to the casing 86. The outer end of the shaft 100 is carried on bearings 103 which in turn are carried on an axially extending structure support member 104 that projects from an axial inner end inwardly of the casing 86 to an outer end outwardly of the sprocket 81. The support 104 has a lug portion 105 thereon that is pinned at 106 to a bifurcated end 107 of the support 78 that connects that end of the drive structure to the transverse beam 31. Journal means in the form of thrust bearings 108, 109 are carried internally of the casing extension 87 and permit rotation of the entire torquetransmitting structure 82 in respect to the supports 104, 78. It should here be recognized that the supports 104, 78 are held against rotation by the pin 106. A snap ring 110 is provided on the inner end of the support 104 and a nut 111 is threadedly mounted on the support 104 externally of the bearings 108, 109. By tightening the nut 111 the bearings 108, 109 may be adjusted.

Fixed to the support 104 by bolts 112 is a main power source in the form of a hydraulic motor 113. The motor 113 may be of any of many commercially sold. It has a drive shaft 114 extending in an axial alignment with the shaft 100. The shafts 100, 114 are coupled by a coupling ring 115. The hydraulic motor is controlled by suitable control means adjacent the operators station on the tractor 10 and fluid is introduced into the motor by flexible hoses 116 so that the motor and drive shaft may be driven in either direction.

A flywheel 120 is supported to rotate with the inner end of the shaft 100. Adjacent that end of the shaft 100 and fixed thereto is a sun gear 121. The sun gear 121 is the initial drive connection to the entire speed-reducing drive means that is disposed in the casing 86. The speedreducing drive means includes a pair of axially spaced planetary gear drives with the first gear drive including the sun gear 121 fixed to rotate with the shaft means 100, a ring gear 122 mounted on the casing 86, and planet gears 123 that have one gear section 124 engaging the sun gear 121 and a second gear section 125 engaging the ring gear 122. The ring gear 122 operates as a restriction against movement of the planet gear 123. A carrier 126 for the planet gears 123 is fixed at 127 to the sun gear 128 of the second planetary gear arrangement. A carrier 129 for planet gears 130 of the second planetary gear arrangement is held against movement by a splined joint 131 with the support 104. The ring gear 132 of the second planetry gear drive is fixed to the casing 86 and will cause rotation of that casing 86 upon rotation of the basic drive shaft 100. Rotation of the casing 86 will, of course, cause the ring gear 122 to rotate. However, the direction of rotation is such that it will cause the carrier 126 to reduce the rate of rotation of the sun gear 128. Consequently the two planetary gear arrangements will cause the entire casing 86, the torsion-transmitting structure 82, and the sprockets 80, 81 to rotate in unison.

Reviewing FIG. 4 in its entirety, it should be noted that there are many joints between the casings 83, 86, 87 and between the flanges 84, 80 and 88, 81 that may create misalignment of the bearings at the end of the drive sprocket structure. The bearing arrangement on the right-hand end has been previously described. On the left-hand end there is provided a rigid plate 135 that is bolted by bolts 85 to the outer surface of the sprocket 80. Extending outwardly from the plate 135 is a bearing shaft 1136 serving as a structure support at that end of the structure 60 having a reduced end 137 receiving a bearing 138 carried in a bearing housing 139. The housing 139 has a pair of axially extending lugs 140, 141 projecting outwardly from its surface. The support 77 is provided with a pin end 145 that is received in the socket 66 and a ring end 146 that is loosely received around the housing 139. The ring 146 has internal notches 147 therein that receive the lugs 140, 141. The notches do not tightly grip the lugs and there is considerable free play between the housing 139 and the ring portion 146. The ring portion 146 will therefore not retain the bearing housing 139 in a rigid or fixed position in respect to the frame 30.

As mentioned previously, due to the various joints in the torsion-transmitting structure 82, the bearings 138, 103, 101 could be slightly out of axial alignment. They could be slightly eccentric to one another. Should the entire torque-transmitting structure 82 be slightly out of axial alignment, unless the entire structure 60 is supported in a free or floating manner, there would be considerable stresses applied in the structure 82. It is for this reason that the right-hand end of the structure is supported on pivot means that includes the pivot pin 106 and the pin portion 148 of the yoke 107 that fits into the socket 76. Reviewing FIG. 3, it becomes apparent that the entire structure 60 may swivel longitudinally of the frame 30 by slight movement about the pin 106. Similarly the structure 60 may swivel normal to the frame 30 by shifting about the socket joint 76, 148. By having the support 77 loosely support the bearing housing 139, any misalignment of the axial structure 60 will be compensated for by the articulate connections in the supports at opposite ends of the structure 60. Thus, there will be no stress in the various parts of the torsion-transmitting structure 60 other than those created by the torque load created by the motor 113. It should also be noted that the support adjacent the motor 113, while articulate in nature, is nevertheless constructed of pivots that have close tolerances. Therefore, there will not be a jerky motion due to starting, stopping or reversing the direction of rotation of the motor. In other words, the end of the structure that supports the motor is firmly mounted on the frame 30. Thus, the entire torque-transmitting structure 60 is free to self-position itself for any reason there is misalignment between one end and the other end of the structure.

We claim:

1. A drive structure for a flight-type elevator having a plurality of continuous chains interjoined by flight elements comprising: a plurality of drive sprockets for driving the chainsspaced apart axially along a common axis of rotation; axially extending structure rigidly joining the sprockets and including an axially extending casing positioned between the sprockets with an opening at one end adjacent one of the sprockets; a power source outwardly of the one sprocket; a part adapted to be held against rotation extending axially through the one sprocket for penetration into the open end of the casing; external journal means between the part and the casing; a drive shaft partially retained in the casing and journaled internally of and on the part and projecting axially out of the respective sprocket and drivingly connected to the power source; and a speed-reducing drive between the shaft and casing for effecting rotation of the sprockets in response to rotation of the shaft means.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the opening the casing is along the axis of rotation and the shaft extends axially along the axis of rotation.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the chains move around the sprockets and the casing has its outer surface internally of the flights on the chains as they move with the chains around the sprockets.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a flywheel being supported on and to rotate with the shaft internally of the casing.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the shaft extends axially in respect to the axis of rotation, casing journal means is at the opposite end of the casing from said opening, the speed-reducing means is positioned internally of the casing adjacent said opening, and further characterized by a flywheel mounted on the shaft adjacent the opposite end.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the shaft is axially extending with respect to the axis of rotation, the power source is a rotary-type hydraulic motor having an output shaft axially coextensive with and connected to the shaft.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the speed-reducing drive is a pair of planetary gear drives axially spaced along the shaft means and in which the first planetary gear drive has its sun gear fixed to rotate with the shaft, its ring gear fixed to the casing and effecting rotation of its planet gear around the sun gear, and the planet gear is connected to and drives the sun gear of the second planetary gear drive, and the second planetary gear drive has its planet gears fixed to the aforesaid part and against rotation with respect to its sun gear and its ring gear is fixed to the casing to effect rotation thereof.

8. A drive mechanism for a flight-type elevator having a pair of spaced apart continuous chains interjoined by flight elements comprising: an elongated rigid structure extending between the chains and having opposite ends adjacent the respective chains, the structure further having an elongated casing portion formed about an axis extending lengthwise of the structure and having an opening that opens to one end of the structure; a pair of drive sprockets fixed to the structure at the ends thereof such that the casing portion is between the sprockets and the sprockets are rotatable about a common axis; a pair of structure supports extending axially outwardly of the sprockets for supporting opposite ends of the structure; a motor drive means mounted on one of the supports effecting rotation of a drive shaft aligned and internally journaled with respect to its respective support and penetrating into the casing via the opening; and a drive within the casing extending between the shaft and casing for effecting rotation of said structure in response to rotation of the shaft.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the support on which the motor drive means is mounted is fixed against rotation, and the structure at its end adjacent the latter support is supported for rotation on the support about the axis of rotation.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the opening in the casing is an axial opening, the shaft extends axially along the axis of rotation, and said motor effects rotation of the shaft means by a motor shaft axially aligned with and coupled to the shaft.

11. The structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the elevator has a main frame and the supports are articulately mounted on the frame to automatically accommodate minor shifting and movement of the structure.

12. A drive structure for a flight-type elevator having a plurality of continuous chains interjoined by flight elements comprising: a plurality of sprockets for receiving the chains spaced axially along a common axis of rotation; an axially extending rigid structure extending between and rigid with the sprockets for rotation therewith, said structure having a hollow axially extending gear casing between the sprockets with an axial opening at one end; a drive source offset outwardly of one of the sprockets; a part adapted to be held against rotation extending axially through the one sprocket for penetration into the open end of the casing; external journal means between the part and the casing; a drive shaft partially retained in the casing and journaled internally of and on the part and projecting axially out of the respective sprocket and drivingly connected to the power source; and gear means on the shaft within the casing adapted to rotatably drive the sprockets in response to rotation of the shaft.

13. In an elevator for use with an earth scraper having a material bowl with opposite fore-and-aft extending side walls and a forward horizontally disposed cutting blade and in which the elevator includes an inclined main frame extending from a lower end adjacent the blade to an upper rear end and further having opposite fore-and-aft extending sides, transversely spaced rotary chain carriers supported on the lower end of the frame, and a fight-type conveyor including a plurality of transversely spaced chains interjoined by transverse flight elements and extending between the upper and lower ends of the frame, the improvement residing in drive means for the elevator comprising a rigid transverse structure having transversely spaced drive sprockets rigid therewith and supported on the upper end of the frame, the structure further having a hollow axially extending casing disposed between the sprockets; an axially extending drive shaft means extending from internally of the casing through and beyond the outer side of one of the sprockets; a power-transmitting device with rotary output means drivingly connected to the drive shaft means; a drive structure internally of the casing between the casing and drive shaft means for rotating the casing and sprockets in response to rotation of the shaft means; supports adjacent the respective sprockets and between the frame and said tranverse structure for journal- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,887 9/1950 Thomson et a1. 37-8UX 2,941,411 6/1960 Wilhelm et a1. 198-203X 2,965,217 12/1960 Dommann et al. 198-203 2,966,068 12/1960 Christian 74-216.5X 2,984,336 5/1961 Frost, Jr. 198-203 3,150,768 9/1964 Muller 198-203 3,208,165 9/1965 Johnson et a1. 37-8 3,268,066 8/1966 Kishimoto 198-203 3,376,758 4/1968 MacKay 198-203X ROBERT -E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner E. H. EICKHOLT, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X. R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3557;"73 Dated 26 January 97 Inventor(s) Ronald P. Grosskclaus and John L. Clingerman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 67, after "opening" insert in Column 6, line 52, cancel "means" Signed and sealed this 1 6th day of May 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLEICHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J1 Attesting Officer Commissioneroi Patent;

FORM F'O-IOSO (10-69) 

